[NaughtyusMaximus]

I hope this doesn't start a flame war - I just need a bit of a push in either direction. I can't decide which I like better, the 650S, or the 650N. I'll be using my SV to do a lot of commuting, ~50km/day in rainy Vancouver. I'm hoping that I'll also get quite a bit of weekend riding through local areas and side roads in the mountains.

I've been lurking on this forum for at least a year now, so I understand the basic differences between the two models. Higher bars on the naked, and a more upright seating position might be a little better for a newbie, but will the lack of fairing be an annoyance for highway & rain? I've sat on both of the two, but not test ridden either yet.

I've had my license for around a year, and I've taken lessons, but that was for the most part on a maurader and on a GS500. I (and my wife) really like the idea of getting a bike with ABS, and the ability to have a little extra to give while riding on highways. I'm definitely sold on the SV650 - I just can't make up my mind whether I would prefer the S or N, so some thoughts regarding this would be much appreciated!

 

[svtirefire]

I appreciate how the riding position on the naked is nicer than clip-ons for low speed maneuvering and U-turns. Also easier on the arms after a few miles IMO. I wouldn't be concerned about the wind wearing you out on the naked if you're only riding 50km/day. As to riding in the rain... I don't do much of that so can't help ya there!

 

[RedRaptor22]

With your riding conditions I'd say go with the faired, the windscreen helps a TON with rain and cold but it's a bit more cramped vs the naked with handlebars. So if your comfortable with the ergo's of the S I'd reccomend that for your rainy and cold commuting. If you need a bit more room and don't mind catching 100% of the rain and cold coming at you go with the naked version....I converted mine to naked, but now I don't ride in the rain.

 

[NaughtyusMaximus]

For those of you who don't know, Vancouver gets an average of 1155mm of rain per year, with most of it coming in the spring and fall months. To compare, Seattle got 970mm in 2007.

I hope to see the sun in April sometime

If I was to get the fully faired 650, I think I'd take the lower set off.

 

[MadMadame]

Whatever you do decide, don't forget to make installing frame sliders one of your first mods. Those things will save you a lot of grief should an unfortunate incident occur and will protect either the plastics or the engine/frame.

 

[NaughtyusMaximus]

Yep, I actually picked up a set from Blair near the end of last season ;D

 

[localgod11]

It wont matter in the rain, either way you going to get very wet.

buy the one that moves you.

 

[doxiedog]

Takes me about 20 min. to put my windshield on in the fall, summer is a fly screen or naked

 

[NaughtyusMaximus]

So it seems like there are quite a few people around here who have made nakeds out of their faired SVs. Is it just as easy/hard to go from a naked to a faired?

 

[drewnabobber]

From what I understand, it's not too difficult to go from a naked to a faired, but I think it's easier to go the other way (aside from the bars).

That said, I commute ~130 km per day in rainy Vancouver on a naked SV. I find that with a heated vest I don't mind the windblast at all (and it helps keep the speed down). I added Vstrom handguards and heated grips to deal with cold hands, which you might end up doing on the faired SV as well. The riding position on the naked is more comfortable and I think the upright position helps keep your eyes up and makes it easier to look around in traffic.

So I vote naked. They're still selling 09 N's here, but you can probably find an 08 out there as well. In Canada, all 08 and 09 SV's have ABS. Can't go wrong either way.

 

[sdobbs20]

to me, it doesn't matter if it's faired or not. obviously if i'm doing 60 on a motocross bike sitting straight up it'll bug me after a while. i'd go with the fairing one. you can always go naked with it which would be easier than going from naked to faired.

 

[Michelle]

My gs500 was naked. I loved the bike but I did 400km commutes with it and the wind eventually tired me out on the trans canada, and I had to buy a screen for it. That helped a lot but I made sure the sv I bought had fairings. I even bought lowers for it that are getting painted now to finish off the bike.
It's personal preference...my preference is to have fairings.

 

[andyauger]

Go naked, install DL handguards and a largish windshield, along the lines of a National Cycles F-15 Tour Shield. Fairings are OK, but the protection is limited. Just MHO, having owned numerous bikes of each type on the rainy Gulf Coast.

 

[cfreger]

Commuting with handlebars is the way to go, IMO. Remember that clip-ons were developed as a racing application, because they make for a faster response to steering inputs at higher speeds. However, this comes at the expense of comfort and slow-speed control. Considering what commuting is about, the choice seems obvious to me.

Personally, I like sitting upright -- it's easier on my back, and it's easier to see over cars, and be seen by others.

Sure, you can sit up a bit on the S, if, say, your back starts to bother you, or you need to see around traffic, but how long can you ride like that? You'll strain your arms and have less control over the steering. Also, how will you know when it's time to sit up because someone else is having trouble seeing you? OTOH, on the N you can tuck on the highway and ride safely and comfortably like that for a good long time.

As others have pointed out, there are a lot of aftermarket windscreen alternatives for the SVN, if you later decide you want one, and they are a lot cheaper than the price difference between the S and the N.

 

[maleman876]

adding a screen to your naked is easy. roomate just put a givi touring screen on his. its easy to put the screen on and off once you have the brackets in place. it helps tremendously with wind hitting you, but we havent tested it in the rain.

i find the upright position to be much more comfortable all around. my SV had clipons, i had it for two years. it wasnt bad, but i prefer bars. personal preference really.

 

[maleman876]

i say buy the one you like the looks/price/riding position of.

 

[Nexus242]

Flip a coin, get the bike, you'll love either one just as much. If you don't then you no know you should have gone with your gut feeling about which bike you do like more.

 

[NaughtyusMaximus]

I think I'm leaning toward the naked right now. Unfortunately I have to wait a week or two before the local dealership (that I like) is getting any in stock before I can go drool for a bit again.

I really hate the way most of the screens for the naked SV look - but I can handle looking like a dork - my helmet is plyon orange already ;D

 

[cfreger]

So Canada still gets the SVN for '09? Do you also get the Gladius?

 

[NaughtyusMaximus]

Both as far as I know, but yesterday I went to three dealerships and didn't see any of either on display. I was only looking for the SVN though...